Infinite Checkpoint: No Game No Life

Read ahead on my P@treon...

[email protected]/MayaMatengele01

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sitting at the dining table, Amira raised her hands, holding a knife and fork, her eyes sparkling with excitement...

"Ahaha, no use lying to me~☆. The Queen may have been in cold sleep for hundreds of years, but she's still as beautiful as ever~☆. Yes, YES, she's a blessing for all those 'Oyaji-cons'~☆."

When she realized she was being a bit rude, she shook her tail and straightened up.

"I already told you, I'm not an Oyaji-con. I'm more of a kemonomimi and loli kind of gu– wait, no, that's just a joke. What I really want to know is how you even know about stuff like 'Oyaji-con'..."

"☆Uhuhu☆~ The reason is simple~. Our neighbors, the Werebeasts, often sell games to us~☆. Some of them are about love stories between students and teachers~☆. That's what you call 'Oyaji-con', right?"

"Not exactly, but you're close. There are indeed games that feature interactions between students and teachers. However, the term 'Oyaji-con' is not entirely accurate in this context. Typically, 'Oyaji-con' refers to individuals who are attracted to older men."

"O-older men?!" Amira stared at the meat on her plate, tilting her head, "It's been a long time since I've seen an adult male from another race~☆... Please enjoy tonight's dinner."

The lives of Sirens really are quite monotonous. On the other hand, the Dhampir aren't much better…

Both races are on the brink of extinction due to the Ten Covenants, and one way to solve the problem is to awaken the Siren Queen.

Even if the Queen is awakened, it won't solve all their problems, but it would at least alleviate the immediate crisis.

Staring at the food on the table, Haruya casually picked up some vegetables with his chopsticks.

Eating underwater is such a strange experience…

"Amira-san, has Plum told you everything about why I'm here?"

"Not everything~☆. Keeping some secrets is allowed after all~☆. The Covenants don't require us to 'reveal everything to the other party', right? Uhuhu, though in my opinion, those who keep secrets are just idiots~☆."

As she spoke, Amira's gaze fell on Plum, who was sitting across the table.

This comment was clearly aimed at Plum, who snorted in dissatisfaction, "I don't want to be called an idiot by an idiot."

"How arrogant~☆. Anyway, I mostly understand the situation." Amira put down her utensils and fixed her azure eyes on Haruya, "The Queen isn't someone just anyone can disturb~☆. As a challenger, I'd like to know what 'capital' you have, Nangou-sama."

It was clear that even if someone was willing to risk everything to awaken the Queen, Amira wouldn't just approve their request to challenge her.

Even if Haruya would become food if he failed, Amira was expecting greater gains.

Faced with this probing question, Haruya finished the food in his bowl.

"My capital isn't much, but I have something you need..."

He raised his right hand and extended his index finger, "First, my status as a noble in Elkia allows me to gather information and understand the actions of Immanity."

Then he extended his middle finger, "Second, aside from my status, the wealth I possess is something you probably can't do without. My family's treasures practically fill the basement."

Both Amira and Plum showed interest at this.

Facing extinction, having financial support would make things much easier.

Moreover, Océando's current resources would be affected by the establishment of the Elkia Federation.

After all, the Werebeasts would prioritize trading with Immanity over the Sirens.

Finally, Haruya extended a third finger, "I can see through people's secrets."

"Huh?"

Amira's expression turned to confusion, while Plum looked at him with a face that screamed 'you're lying'...

Gesturing for Amira to come closer, Haruya whispered into her ear, which was partially hidden by her long hair.

"You know, don't you? The victory condition for the Queen's game isn't 'making the Queen fall in love with you'. But you don't know the real way to clear it."

"W-what?!"

Amira's eyes widened, and she quickly glanced around to make sure no one else was present before leaning even closer to Haruya.

Normally, you can't smell anything underwater, but perhaps due to Plum's spell, Haruya noticed a faint fragrance coming from Amira.

'Something fragrant in the sea... sea flowers? Waves?'

'No, this isn't a riddle.' Though Haruya had heard that some seaweed has a slight fragrance…

Facing the eccentric mermaid who had leaned in close, Amira placed her hands on Haruya's shoulders.

"You can really read minds?"

"I already told you earlier. I don't want to repeat myself. I can, or maybe I can't."

"Geez, why is Immanity so mean? They even came down to the sea to steal our pearls before..." Her shoulders slumped, but Amira didn't give up, "Then, what do you want to do~?"

She actually started acting like a child throwing a tantrum!

Not swayed by Amira's antics, Haruya grabbed her cheeks with his hand, "Like I said from the beginning, I'm here to conquer the Queen."

"Mmm… conquer~? But, do you have a method~? Mmm…" With her cheeks being pinched, Amira couldn't speak clearly...

Meanwhile, Plum, who had been listening to the conversation, leaned in closer.

"I don't plan on wasting time." Haruya continued, "And you don't have much time to waste either, do you?"

This was the truth, and it made Amira fall silent.

The Sirens were facing extinction, and the Dhampir were in a similarly precarious situation.

The way to change their fate was to awaken the Queen, which would give them a chance to reproduce.

The Ten Covenants had restricted the lifestyles of both races, so they needed to find another path.

'Suppose…' Amira looked at Haruya, 'What would happen if this Immanity became the Sirens' representative?'

Currently, Amira was acting as the proxy representative, but she needed to consider the implications of Haruya truly awakening the Queen.

As a member of Immanity, or rather, as someone who had betrayed Immanity, what would Haruya do to the Sirens?

The interests and future of the Sirens currently rested in Amira's hands.

The Queen, who longed for love, was still waiting for her 'prince'.

It was all quite troubling.

Then, she asked a perfectly reasonable question, "Nangou-sama, what method do you have to awaken the Queen? How much time will it take?"

"Well…" Haruya thought for a moment before saying, "Ten seconds."

""You're an idiot!!""

'Ah... Being called an idiot by a fool and a brainless Dhampir…'